Sixth Beat | And We'll Go to the Market to Sell it

[knightime]

Characters: Dave Strider and You!
Format: Any/Either
This log is: Open
Location: Music/Instrument shop in town
Summary: Dave works at the music/instrument shop in town. For all his lack of talking, he seems to be pretty educated in the stuff in this place. He's bored and he still looks like crap honestly.
Warnings: Dave's very sassy text and a lot of cussing was to be had.

Dave didn't go to see the new arrivals at the Train Station this time. Not because he didn't think it was important to see who arrived, but because he just didn't want to end up socializing then. He still looked terrible. It's only been a few days since he got into a physical fight with Vriska and kind of ate it pretty badly.

He cleaned up as best as he could and is sitting at the counter of the little shop in town that sold instruments and music. It was nice. He tapped his foot to whatever was playing in the shop and sometimes he'd lip sync to some lyrics to pass time. It kept his mind off things for a little while.

Still, he idly wondered who'd be arriving this round. He stared out at the shop window, fidgeting with the power rings he just bought from Recette's shop. There were two memory charms shoved into his pocket of his trousers. They had homes, but he was stuck at work. He glanced at the clock. Shit, he was doing that thing where he was counting how long it's been. He slams his head against the counter.

Comments

[timaeustestifies]

Dirk was pretty certain there was probably a better place to go to get a feel for this new city. Music, after all, could only tell you so much about the society, and it perhaps wasn't even an accurate summation of what the population enjoyed.

But damn did he love music.

He kept his hands shoved in his pocket, scanning the walls of the small store, and occasionally glancing towards the boy sitting at the counter. His facial structure was similar to his own, and it made him a bit curious because he had never seen him before in his life.

He would have pursed his lips if he was expressive, but he remained perfectly poker faced as he stepped towards the counter. "Would you have any recommendations?"

[knightime]

God damn it. That couldn't be answered with a nod or shake. He pulled his PDA out and turned the screen around so the other could read the bright red text.

Dave couldn't help but be relatively curious of the other though. He wasn't going to lie. Dirk had a lot of similarities to him. They had a similar structure and a lot of similar looks. Hell, people might mistaken them for siblings at first glance. The other sported shades much like the ones he wore before he got his current ones (fuck, where did he get these anyways?).

gonna come clean
i have no fucking clue
this is my first day on this job
i just listen to whatever the shop has on
it isnt so bad
i guess just try stuff out

Despite the fact he probably looked like he should be sleeping, Dave still put off the nonchalant attitude like nothing was wrong.

[timaeustestifies]

He skims the text quickly enough, leaning forward a bit to make out the words on the screen. Shades indoors wasn't quite helpful when you had to read small text on small screens, but he wasn't going to just walk around without his shades or slip them off. He wasn't raised that way.

He couldn't really remember how his was raised, because he couldn't remember having parents or any sort of guardian. But that was pretty irrelevant.

He nodded, and he was going to go and rummage through the selection, he was, but he was so damned curious. Before he could stop himself, he was talking again. "Would you have a name, by any chance?"

[knightime]

Dave seems to be completely fine with his sunglasses on. But it might also be because, gosh, he rather have them on then someone see his eyes, or the state of his black eye at the moment.

He props his chin onto his hand as he watches Dirk go to town on the store.

Well. He guesses it wouldn't hurt telling the other. Conquest or Fortitude or whatever school he would be at, the older teen would probably be someone he'd see again. He tapped at the PDA, because he can't really just tell him his name verbally.

dave strider
and just incase you needed to know anything else
13
houston texas
well before i ended up here that is
i like music and shit
photography is pretty bitchin
i like walks on the beach at sunset
romantic dinner and getaway for two
etc

He also doesn't mention about the session. The other didn't need to know that.

[timaeustestifies]

Dirk doesn't think much of what he reads at first, but he reads the text again. Strider? And from Houston? His stomach twists in on itself, but nothing shows on his face. It could be coincidence, but...what if they were somehow related?

"Really?"

He pulls himself up straighter, looking at the kid full on, and now he understood why people didn't like looking him in the face when they talked to him. It was strange, looking at somebody and being uncertain if you were making eye contact.

"My name is Dirk Strider." He shoves his hands back in his pockets, shoulders returning to a slouch. "15; Houston, Texas. I like music and creating...videos. Movies, if you want to call them that. I would rather have a movie date than go to the beach."

[knightime]

He nodded at the really. Not that he understands why the other wouldn't believe him. It's not like he has a reason to make up shitty stage names to throw people off.

But then he just sits there. And he listens to the other talk and let the information sink in. Dirk Strider? Lives in Houston? Kind of does the nonchalant bullshit behind sunglasses act? ...Sometimes he believed in coincidences but the session really threw any of that out the window. There wasn't such fucking things as coincidences.

as long as were not talking about shitty movies
like con air
seriously
just
if you actually enjoy con air
or nic cage for that matter
you just lose any resemblance to cool in my book

John didn't count. Or something. Plus John was a dork, and it was okay.

[timaeustestifies]

He almost snorts, but he was taught that shit like that was uncool. He couldn't quite remember who taught him that, but the name Cal stuck out in his mind. Was Cal the man who raised him? He had to have been.

"No, I know enough that Nicolas Cage is a horrible actor who has a penchant for starring in just as horrible movies. I'm not quite certain if he is what makes them horrible or if they were doomed from the start."

He hesitates for a moment, because he remembers stealing the damned bunny from Con Air to send to a girl he knew. "My guardian, however, seemed to have a fondness for Con Air, or at least the stuffed rabbit from the movie."

[knightime]

Dave nearly drops his PDA onto the table. He'll pretend he totally didn't drop his cool for that one second where he grabs it before it clatters. Honestly, the fact that his face didn't even drop at all was surprising.

But Dave once had gotten that stupid bunny for John. Or whatever John's name is. That one best bro friend he has. But, this was getting crazy weird...really fast. This couldn't just be some shitty coincidence. No kid should have his life revolving around Con Air when Dirk was obviously pretty cool where Con Air was absolutely terrible.

jegus fuck
is this some shitty joke???
is sis putting you up to this or something???
i mean i guess she doesnt have lil cal ruining my life here
but come on
these parellels cannot be some fucking coincidence that decided to land its plump rump onto my plate
and took a shit in it

[timaeustestifies]

He crosses his arms over his chest, and he really can't help feel on edge. This was just...strange, and there was absolutely no way this could be merely coincidence. Could it be a construct of the game? He didn't actually get the chance to start the game before he wound up here, but...

"I have no idea who this 'Sis' is. And I would prefer you not say Lil Cal is a life ruiner, seeing as he is the best friend a guy could have."

Yes, he remembers Lil Cal now...Not his guardian, but a very good friend of his, someone who was always there to comfort him when things weren't going quite so well, and the one person who Dirk felt comfortable enough with to hug.

"I don't see why I would need to joke about my identity. Regardless of it having a strange parallels to yours, my memories are not faulty."

text;

[smupette]

[So Sis is standing on the roof of the shop. She doesn't have a job, okay. She doesn't need one. But she did see Dave working....well.....standing there.]

nice workin' lil dude
i should be proud of you or some shit
but i've heard you..............
hm
well
let me think this through...

no wait i'll start over.
how are you dave?

text;

[knightime]

[He looked around the shop before looking at his PDA screen again. Why does he even bother looking for her? If she doesn't want to be seen, he won't find her.]

heard i what???
whatever whoever said shit
its probably not true
and if its tru-
im fucking peachy
i could start a fucking peach farm with how peachy i am right now

text;

[smupette]

[She sighs. Sitting on the roof now.]

nothing.
forget i even said that.
i was wording shit.

dave.
am i allowed to walk in this fancy little store?
or should i stay outside.
you know im here right?

and hahahahaha, your sarcasm kills me.

text;

[knightime]

[He rests his chin on the table as he lazily texts her back.]

i know youre here
yeah
its a free
whatever this place is
the point of the store is for people to come in
browse
buy shit
or you know
waste time staring at shit
i wasnt being sarcastic
im fucking amazing
flying high
cant drag me down from my high horse

text;

[smupette]

[Well....she'll humor him.]

Right.
I'm coming in then.
Right now.

[With that. She walks into the store. FROM THE ROOFTOP. Yup, best sister.]

text;

[knightime]

[Dave hasn't really moved. He's still sitting at the counter and he's still resting his chin on the countertop.

He looks at Sis as disinterestedly as possible. He's trying to pretend things are chill. That he isn't in any bad mood or anything.

He raises a lazy hand in greeting.]

text;

[smupette]

[Dave, do you not have any common sense? No place for Sis to perch herself on in this store? She rolled her eyes, raising a hand to greet him.

She doesn't know how to feel, or how to deal with Dave right now. She knew something was up, and she didn't know what. Sis was feeling slightly out of the social loop here; it was her own punishment for being elusive.]

Spill it Lil' Man. [She isn't beating around the godforsaken bush today.]

[knightime]

[Dave isn't exactly going to give this information up so easily. He doesn't really want to talk about it while he's in the middle or work.

And if he told Sis, he'd probably fucking breakdown. There was only so much he could take at this point. He was tired and he wasn't sleeping well if at all. And he hadn't made up with Jade yet.

So he lies. It's obvious he's lying, but maybe she won't push if he's stubborn.]

theres nothing to spill
all my dark girly secrets are already out on display
seriously
you cannot understand what this is doing to my self esteem

[greenspaces]

She finds out where Dave is, partially because she wants to just go see him again. But there's another reason too -- John's told her the truth, and it's time to apologize. She was shit to him, she knows. Called him names and then told him she never wanted to see him again.

Unfortunately, she still doesn't remember what he looks like. So when she comes in, she awkwardly stands there, unsure of what to do.

[knightime]

Lucky for Jade, they're required to wear stupid name tags. So, Dave was sporting a 'Hi, My name is Dave' tag on his shirt.

Dave looks up and gives a friendly wave in greeting, but stops halfway. He just stops and stares at Jade. He feels his heart get caught in his throat. Or maybe he stopped breathing and its just his heart suddenly beating faster then it ever has before. He's been counting how long he hasn't seen her. At least he finally gets to reset that.

Dave lets his arm drop into the counter and...should he approach her? Maybe not. He's too busy glued to his spot. He's afraid to go up to her. Would she be offended if he touched her? If he tried to be friendly? What was he allowed to do?

[greenspaces]

She sees the wave and her face lights up just a little -- at least the people here are friendly. She's been spending a lot of time by herself since she fought with Dave, and seeing people wave makes her feel a little better.

At least, until she reads the nametag.

The smile drops from her face, because she's unsure of what to do -- does he really miss her? John said he did, but she could never tell if Dave really did or if he was being facetious. Finally, she decides to just try something anyway; if he didn't want to speak to her any more, then that was fine. But she wanted to at least do one thing before they went their separate ways, maybe for good.

Jade practically ran around the counter and threw her arms around him, pulling Dave into a tight hug.

[knightime]

Dave is shocked. It shows at first. The stiffening of his shoulders and his body going rigid. But his mind quickly processes the situation. Jade is giving him a hug. Without him making her.

She wanted to hug him, and so he finally wraps his arms around her small frame, fisting the back of her shirt. Oh god, he missed this. He missed holding her hand to the cafeteria. Carrying her around because she fell asleep somewhere. All of this. He missed it.

And he feels a little lighter. He hasn't felt this light since their fight, and he knows that. Even the fact that he's bruised and sore, and he had to make constant trips to the infirmary didn't make him feel any less happy. Maybe Jade was forgiving him. And maybe he didn't deserve it, but he knew he wanted it. He wanted her to forgive him so badly so they can be friends again.

[greenspaces]

She sniffles, but at least she saves herself the embarrassment of crying into his shirt while he's at work. She's just so relieved to have him back -- to be able to hug him and hold his hand and while the guilt's still there, it's not eating her alive any more.

"I never meant any of it," she whispers in his ear. "I really didn't, I promise."

[knightime]

Dave is trying not to cry again. He's been doing that too much. Once was bad enough. Twice, wow he's on a roll. Three times is when he needs to lay off the emotions. But he doesn't cry.

And he smiles instead. He hasn't smiled in a long time, but he smiles for her. Because she's trying to fix things and he should apologize too. So he does.

im sorry
i should have tried harder
and i know i can be a fuck up
but id like to hold your hand again
and eat at the cafeteria
and do all that shit we were gonna do
i want to do that again

[greenspaces]

She smiles back, happy that he's glad to see her. She was honestly worried that he wouldn't want her around, even though John had told her otherwise. Her bandaged fingers reach up to poke at the corners of his mouth.

"I've never seen you smile before. Like this. And...I'm really sorry, that I believed Vriska over you. I should have known that you wouldn't leave me there unless you couldn't get to me. I think...I was being really dumb."

After a pause, she steps back a little, enough to have some arm room. Then she signs, a little falteringly.

<<'I'm sorry. You're my best friend.'>>

[knightime]

He would have agreed, seeing as he was the type to echo 'yeah that was stupid.' But he refrained from it. He didn't want to suddenly upset her or ruin things already. He was just relieved that things would work out and they could be friends again.

And he was delighted to see that she seemed to know a few things in ASL. He was sure John helped her with that.

But it meant a lot, and he was sure that she knew that, so he returns the gesture. His signing was clearer, but only because he had practice. He was sure if she kept practicing, she'd be good at it.